Vital Records

Little Shop of Records brings an old-school shopping experience to a new audience

Aug. 19, 2013

Written by

Becca George

I am not sure whether it was the eclectic decor (including a “man-eating” Venus fly trap in the window), Elton John playing on a record player, or the Beatles Revolver album I found in the racks, but the minute I walked into Little Shop of Records I was hooked.

Grant and Sandi Polston opened Little Shop of Records on the square in December of 2012 and have been building a fan base ever since. “Our regulars are our support system,” says Grant, “We have a lot of regulars that are loyal.” The ambiance, selection, and Grant and Sandi’s willingness to go the extra mile is what keeps customers coming back.

“People come in and don’t know what they want,” says Grant. “The whole thrill is the hunt, and digging through it because you never know what you are going to find.” Visitors range from middle schoolers to grandparents who all come for a tangible media outlet, which is becoming more and more rare in our digital world. “Inherently we as humans are collectors,” says Grant. “I think this is maybe a voice that is missing in their lives.”

It reaches across generations, says Sandi. “A lot of people bring their kids in here to share their experience,” she adds, mentioning the time a father brought his daughters in to the store to tech them about vinyl. “It’s fun to watch how generations are bonding over the records.”

The shop carries albums, both new and used, 45s, CDs, VHS, and cassette tapes and record players. In addition to these things they have jewelry by local artists, prints, magnets, buttons, bags, incense, and much more. They do buy, sell, and trade for merchandise but Grant also spends a lot of time searching for the perfect inventory and his customer’s special requests.